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Re: I want the meaning

Originally Posted by Fleur de mort

hello thanks but why cats and dogs??it's animals not water???

Hi

It`s a very old expression referring to heavy rains. Long ago, about 17th or 18th century there was very bad weather. Heavy floods caused the death of many animals whose bodies floated in the muddy waters and were taken by strong winds . You can imagine the effects of a strong hurricane or tornado : dead bodies lifted in the air and thrown away [miles and miles away].
The expression refers to "cats and dogs" because they are the most common house pets. This is only one of the several interpretations given to the origin of this phrase.

Re: I want the meaning

G'day Fleur de mort,
I am amazed that you are uncomfortable with raining cats and dogs as in a heavy rain storm that sounds like cats and dogs fighting on the roof but are happy with 'welkin' which is an archaic word that I only know from a very old saying about a loud orator being able to 'make the welkin ring' as in being able to speak loud enough to cause an exho.
English is a funny language.